San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-03-17
From the DrOuth District.
DurFAu WELLS, March 1, 1887.

glad TO say we have had another rain, and
our wheat is looking well-mueh better than
at this time last year-and our prospect for
n good crop is good. We are about done
sowing oats. Some crops that were sowed
early are up and looking well and thrifty.
Planting corn is the order of the day now.
The cotton ground is generally ''bedded
up" and ready for the seed. In fact, all Of
our farmers, big and little, are we'll ad-
vanced with their work and their farms in
good fix. Should wo meet with another
drouth, il will be q hard stroke on us, for
we are doing more work and trying to>put
in more than ever before-that Is. those of
us who can get seed and have enough to
feed on to raise crop A much larger
acreage would be put in had all our people
sufficient seed and feed. Our county judge
wrote me last Monday to send him the
names of parties needing aid; that the State
Aid Committee were expected every day,
and no wished to be able to report the wants
of the county. called meeting for the
next night and sent him list of nearly
200 names. And many, from the short
time had to circulate the notice, did not
know of the meeting until too late. None
who reported lived over three miles from
where the meeting was held. This will
give YOU an idea of our real condition, and
l know many whose circumstances would
have justified their application, but from
the fact that the hundred thousand dollar
appropriation will give each family so little
none are asking except the most needy and
entirely destitute. 1 am satisfied that those
who will ask aid in the drouth stricken re-
gion will exhaust the appropriation at less
than three dollars.
The sum looks large, but when it comes
to be divided up among such big family
the amount will be so small as really to dc
but little good in the raising of another
crop. I was glad to see in your last issue
that the Caldwell county Alliance had do
mated $40 to the suffering of our county.
And as one who knows something of the
destitute condition of 30 many of our citi-
zens, l would extend the thanks of our
Alliance. And any others who would have
come up with their donations but for the
State appropriation, would say to them
they can still do 80 with propriety, assuring
them how far short the donations fall from
supplying the actual wants of the people In
the drouth. stricken West Texas.
am sways glad to get the FREE PRESS,
and when l read it give it round to our
neighbors. Ordinarily many of our people
would subscribe for it, but bread and milk
Il won't say meat. that's extravagant), Is
about the only thing the most of us eau
manage now. will say this, though, that
our people endorse and admire your un-
swerving efforts for the right and unfiinch-
ing determination to "render unto Caesars
the things that are Cesar's," with deter
mination to "give unto all men their meat
in due season." both white and black, great
and small, even the bonn man of San Mar
cos ] am truly glad that the Crcsset had
not found its way to West Texas, for you
would have had a lot of Us poor devils down
there looking for work, and the Cresset
would have had it's hands full for once, for
1t would have htd to keep the whole layout
till grass comes, for their feet would have
been too sore to walk back barefooted and
it would have worn out our old shoes in
trying to reach the boom" that you say il
no such a thing.
Your temperance proclivities suit us to a
II. Go on. FREE PRESS, in the work of re-
formation; hit the whisky and bar room
men whenever you can. not forgetting the
San Antonio brewer workers, and the class
Of men making up her city officials.
What does the FREE PRESS think Of Pres
ident Cleveland vetoing the bill appropriat-
ing $40, 900 for the drouth sufferers? Some
of us up hero think if it was really uncon-
stitutional, thas there have things been
done at the White House equally unconsti-
tutional before this bill was brought up.
Lots of money has been squandered since
the first Democratic vole ever cast, great
ly less laudable than would have been this
80, 900 in furnishing seed to destitute
people. We needle this seed grain, be-
lieve as bad as Mrs. Logan did the little
appropriation she received. if she is wild
ow. for we have hundreds of widows to-day
in West Texas, barefooted and nothing
to eat save a scanty divide of neigh
bors, and some of them soldiers
wives too-both Gray and Blue. If
you have occasion to write Mr.. Cleveland.
please tell him can't accept a commission.
on the Inter state Commerce business, un-
less he donates his portion of seed TO us
too. Unless he does this please tell him l
decline in favor of Maxey-and fear our
people would think it an unconstitutional
at for me TO accept such position under
the circumstances. Maxey is the Texas
man for the place any how. No better man
could be found to fill so important posi-
/ tion. aud none Of the five will do more to
carry out the full requirements of the bill
than he. But should the President think
Mr.. Maxey overlooked with business and
not the man, there are lots Of folks in Texas
who would accept the commission.
wonld't be surprised IL Nat q Henderson
or Tom Ochiltree would not object to the
appointment.
/ The FARMER Alliance in this county is
still growing, aud am gia1 to se9 the sane
good work going Oh in your county. liked
/ the PLAIN business Tx Of Science Hall, ito
yonr merchants. aud / would say 10 the
business committee or trade committee, II
Hellman nor none Of the Kyle merchants
wont come 20 terms 10 suit them, 20 try
Kilian or some Of the good substantial
houses Of San Marcos. But u yOu Alliance
men Of Hays county viii land yOl can do
. il start cooperative business q your own,
. Il will beat any trade contract' you can
make all hollow We older Alliance
people knoE all abO1t thsse contra &. and
. our erperience is that uoBs % then come
out Jus; according to promise. Iheyl Al
beat you = little and ''d5nt yOu forget %.
but better this than get al yo1 make. ~
you can get up co operative huslness -
vour ON. then pack cut your bssi rnan and
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